Sports-based violence prevention program inspires local replication

After The Philadelphia Citizen highlighted a basketball program in Virginia that helps keep people out of prison, Philadelphia Youth Basketball created a similar program called I Am Because We Are. In 2019, The Citizen wrote about the Virginia program, called RVA League for Safer Streets (https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/taylor-paul-rva-league-for-safer-streets/), and also invited one of its leaders to talk at its Ideas We Should Steal Festival (https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/ideas-we-should-steal-festival-videos/). Aaron Crump, a coach and mentor for Philadelphia Youth Basketball, said his organization adapted the RVA League approach in collaboration with that program’s founders. Along with basketball, the program includes life skills, mentoring and a positive code of conduct.